Child trafficking case in Abuja uncovered by Brekete Family leads to arrest of four women accused of exploiting boys for alms begging
Child trafficking case in Abuja has taken a dramatic turn after four women were remanded in police custody for allegedly using children to beg for alms while pretending to be blind.
Also read: Nigeria Police Rescue Trafficking Victims, Smash Two Syndicates
The accused Precious Silas, 30, Ngozi Unukwuwa, 47, Chisinau Onukwuagha, 40, and Favour Ohebegeim, 25 all residents of Karimo in the Federal Capital Territory, were arraigned before a high court in Maitama on charges of criminal conspiracy and child trafficking.
According to prosecution counsel Donatus Abah, the women allegedly brought three boys aged seven, eight, and twelve from Imo State to Abuja under the guise of enrolling them in school.
Instead, they were forced into street begging, with the women feigning blindness to solicit sympathy and money.
Their activities were exposed by the investigative “Brekete Family” Human Rights Radio and Television programme, which shed light on the exploitation.
The charges brought against the defendants contravene sections 14(b) and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as well as sections 3(1), (2), and (3) of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003.
The defendants pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, B.C Nnadika, filed a bail application, to which the prosecution raised no objection.
Also read: Human Trafficking Fight Strengthens as NAPTIP Trains Ogun School Heads
Justice Cyprian Agashieze adjourned the hearing until Wednesday and ordered the women’s remand in police custody pending a ruling.
